Starkville aldermen on Tuesday unanimously promoted Deputy City Clerk Lesa Hardin to the department’s lead position.
Hardin assumes the position made vacant when aldermen appointed Taylor Adams as chief administrative officer. Hardin’s annual salary was set at $58,000.
She will serve a six-month probationary period similar to the one incoming Starkville Police Department Chief Frank Nichols faces. Nichols was also appointed to his new position Tuesday.
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen for this position, and I look forward to serving the citizens, mayor and board of aldermen,” Hardin said.
Hardin emerged as a finalist along with Mississippi State University Shuttle Operations Manager Jeanette Mitchell-Bailey. Aldermen interviewed both candidates during a special-call meeting Monday.
“Both of the candidates were excellent. I can say without a shadow of a doubt both would make excellent clerks,” said Mayor Parker Wiseman Tuesday. “I think (Hardin) is one of the most talented employees you will find in a clerk’s office in the state of Mississippi.”
Adams will continue part of his previous role after the board approved renaming his position to “Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Finance.”
Hardin joined the city in December 2012 and became the city clerk’s office manager. She oversaw the department’s purchasing, general accounting duties and daily operations. She also served in Eupora from 1998 to 2012 as city clerk, municipal court clerk and tax collector.
Additionally, Hardin holds notary public status and election training certification.
“I could not be happier about the board appointing Lesa as city clerk. She’s been an exemplary employee and a great help to us as we pushed toward adding a strategic focus to the city clerk’s office,” Adams said. “She’ll do an outstanding job in the lead role there, and I look forward to working with her in her new capacity.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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